Page 32 of Queen of Spades

I’m blissed-out on all the orgasms and clearly exhausted.

Ward calling Cassian “princess” clearly triggered my memories of the surly alpha. I’m not sure if it’s age or distance from the situation, but I feel terrible every time I think of Kane.

I’m not sure if my brother killed him, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he did. The thought of being dragged from my parents’ cage to one monitored by Ranger was too much for me to handle at the time, but even I can admit I acted rashly. My response proved me to be the teenager Kane always heckled me about being.

If the same thing happened now, I would handle myself differently. But I also know I was in shock when I shot him and ran from my old life.

Those months I spent on the run before I met Grady were the loneliest of my life. I considered going to Ranger’s home in Virginia more than once, but I truly didn’t know if he would welcome me with open arms or lock me in his basement for running in the first place.

My heart hurts when I think of Ranger. He wasn’t a terrible big brother, but he was indifferent to my very existence. As a little girl who was sure her older brother hung the moon, I thought he was cruel.

I’ve had a whole lot more life experience since then, and I can recognize that we just didn’t have anything in common, and he was incapable of faking care and concern.

At the end of the day, he’s the only family I have left.

I sigh, snuggling into the seat as Grady climbs into the driver’s seat. Lamenting my mistakes won’t change anything.

If I magically found out the Andrettis were dead, then I might consider going home or trying to reunite with my brother. But without that guarantee, there’s no point in returning. I’d be a prisoner while he tried to keep me safe.

I don’t live far from the club, and Grady keeps his hand on my thigh for the entire drive to my apartment.

Lyra is nowhere to be seen as Grady carries me inside. I nuzzle closer to his throat, thankful that I don’t have to tackle that conversation right now.

Grady gets me tucked into bed, but he doesn’t climb in beside me.

“Where are you going?” I ask sleepily.

“I’ve got to run home and water my plant.” He bends over, kissing my temple. “I’ll be back before you wake up.” He strides out as my jaw hangs open.

What. The. Fuck. Was. That?

That was my boyfriend lying to me.

Okay, maybe not boyfriend, but he’s definitely mine.

My man friend just lied to me.

I wait until the door closes behind him and shove my exhausted form out of bed.

Am I really going to follow Grady?

Oh, who am I kidding?

Of course, I am.

The pheromone haze has fully dissipated, and I now know what I should have remembered then.

Grady Wells is not a plant guy.

I don’t care what bullshit he spewed to Ward and Cassian.

Chapter Eleven

Grady

When Anni’s brother first approached me, I’d never heard the name Ranger Cavanaugh. Although, when you meet the man, you realize pretty quickly that he’s a natural predator.

Maybe normal people could look into his eyes and ignore the cold, dead stare.

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